Introduction

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The File Browser.

Usage

The File Browser is used in all the file-related operations. It has multiple use cases, while it’s often used for save/load.

These include:

  • Opening and saving blend-files.
  • Importing/exporting other file formats.
  • Picking new locations for existing file paths (images, video, fonts…).
  • Browsing inside other blend-files, when using Linked Libraries.

You can also keep the File Browser open, as with any other editor type, to browse through the file system. In this case, confirm/cancel buttons will be absent.

The main purpose of this is to be able to drag media files:

On the other hand, if the File Browser is opened for a file action (opening, saving, importing, etc.), it will appear maximized and waiting for an operation to complete before returning to the former screen layout.

File Region

File Path
The text field for the current path. Tab will auto-complete an existing path. If you type a non existing directory path, you will be prompted to create that new directory.
File Name
Text field to edit the file name and extension. If the background is red, a file with same name already exist in the folder. Tab will auto-complete to existing names in the current directory.
Increment Filename +, -
Adds/increases or removes/decreases a trailing number to your file name (used to make versions of a file).
Confirm

The main button to Open Directory/File or Save (As) Return or double-click with LMB on the entry confirms with that file or data-block.

  • Shift-LMB – Open the file externally (selected in File).
  • Alt-LMB – Open the directory externally (using the system’s file manager).
Cancel
Cancels the Open or Save file selection and closes the File Browser Esc or by using the Back to Previous in the Info editor header.

Tool Shelf

The left region displays different ways to find files and several options. Clicking with LMB on one of the entries, the File Browser will navigate to that folder.

System

The system panel contains a list of drives that are available to navigate through to find files.

System Bookmarks

Bookmarks that are common for a particular operating system.

Bookmarks

A List View of shortcuts to folders, that you want to be able to access often without having to navigate to them in the File Browser.

Add +
This button adds the current directory to the list.

Recent

This is a list of recently accessed folders. You can control how many folders appear in this list by going to the File tab of the User Preferences, in the Recent Files number button.

Operator Panel

Link/Append from Library
See Linked libraries.
Open, Save, Save As Blender File
See Opening Files or Saving Files.
Open, Replace, Save As Image
See Supported Graphics Formats.

For the common option:

Relative Path
See Relative paths.

Main Region

Selection

Select
Both LMB and RMB works.
(De)select All A
Toggles selecting all files.
Dragging
Dragging with LMB starts a border selection.

Arrow Keys

It is also possible to select/deselect files by “walking” through them using the arrow keys:

  • Just using an arrow key, the next file in the chosen direction will be selected and all others deselected.
  • Holding down Shift while doing this does not deselect anything so it extends to the selection, plus it allows to deselect files by navigating into a block of already selected ones (minimum two files in sequence).
  • Holding down Shift-Ctrl further selects/deselects all files in between.

If no file is selected, the arrow key navigation selects the first or last file in the directory, depending on the arrow direction.

If you select a directory and hit Return, you will go into that directory (and highlighting ‘parent’ entry will bring you up one level).

File Management

Delete Files Delete, X
Delete the currently selected files.
Rename Ctrl-LMB
Can be used on a file or directory to rename it.